I just recently got a 99 Accord EX and I've started to modify some things. I'm curious if anyone that lives in New England has a cold air intake, and if so do you have to worry about the winter time?

 

and do you have to worry about water getting into the intake if you have the AEM valve, and also if the intake replaces the existing one up high near the engine?

 

I don't have one on my car yet....but NE winters can be very bad(as you know).If I was you I would take it off for the winter.A lot of my friends run them year round.I myself would take it off.....

 

The existing one up near the engine? The entire airbox/intake path is replaced.
I've driven in deep snow with the AEM cold air. As a matter of fact, the air fiter was covered in snow and everything ran fine (old engine, didn't care if it blew). Your air filter should be protected by the splash sheild, but I had to cut away the splash sheild to fit my air filter. Now that I've got a brand-spanking new engine, I have nightmares about hydrolocking my engine. That would probably ony happen if I drove through deep enough water, but of course I won't even drive through 1 inch of water. I'm not taking any chances though, I'm putting on the bypass valve and see if any power is lost on the dyno.

PS at http://www.aempower.com you can read about the Sport Compact Car test of the bypass valve. It saved an NSX even when they submerged the air filter in water. So most likely it works. You may lose some power. I'm still not too sure about it though... I think its flaps might still open a bit sometimes without water, and draw unfiltered air into the engine. I've already purchased the valve. It's got a foam filter around it, but still...


[Modified by 4doorH22, 10:48 PM 9/8/2001]

 

thanks for the advice, I think I'm going to go for it and throw it in next week.

 

I really doubt the bypass valve will loose power.. Dave, get a new fender well, you don't have to cut it to get to your filter! Just pull it out of the way and put it back when your done.. But really, having that hole there is not good! Take my word, I have HYDROLOCKED my prelude with the AEM.

 

Heh of course I know I could pull the splash shield away, mount the filter, and put the shield back in place, but even with the filter mounted as high up as I could possibly put it there were clearance issuses between the filter and splash shield. The only way to complete the installation without having the shield hanging down behind the passenger side of my bumper was to cut a portion of the shield away. I'm getting a new intake and will definately be installing a full new splash shield. See you on the 15th Corey.